THE elections have led to a major shake-up in local politics in Liskeard.

The town saw the biggest change in South East Cornwall at town and parish level with only six former councillors remaining on the town council.

The new independent minor party, Open Liskeard, took nine of the 15 seats available.

The party is mainly made up of members of the Liskeard Town Team which was given £100,000 last year to spend on reviving the town centre through the Portas Pilot scheme.

If Open Liskeard operates as a group, it will now have control of the town council which has an annual budget of more than £380,000.

Members of the town council and the town team have been involved in a number of headline-making disagreements since the Portas Pilot was launched.

Sally Hawken, chairman of the town team's executive board, is now a town councillor for Open Liskeard and was also elected as the county councillor for Liskeard East as an Independent.

In thanking everyone who voted for her, she said: 'To all who I am now representing, rest assured I intend to do my very best as a new councillor and to learn the ropes speedily and to work hard for you. There is a lot to learn but I'm looking forward to it.'

Ms Hawken is joined on the town council by town team member Roger Holmes (a former Mebyon Kernow councillor), who was also elected to serve on the county council for Liskeard North. In addition, town team members Rachel Brooks, Susan Pike (a former councillor), Phil Seeva, Jane Pascoe and Hella Tovar were voted in as Open Liskeard representatives on the town council. Also elected for Open Liskeard were James and Lorna Shrubsole who are not team team members.

Altogether the party fielded 11 candidates in a strong doorstep campaign, in Liskeard's first town council election for 12 years. In a statement Open Liskeard said that 'Liskeard had voted for openness'.

The party's election leaflet said: 'We want the town council to work effectively with the people of Liskeard to regenerate a vibrant and prosperous community that feels good about itself.'

Susan Pike, who was already a town councillor before standing for the new party, and topped the poll in Liskeard West, said: 'We are delighted that so many people have voted for us. We want to repay that trust by working constructively on behalf of Liskeard with the other town councillors who have been elected.'

Businesswoman Jane Pascoe, elected in Liskeard East, said: 'Now that local people have shown clearly what they want, I hope this can be a new beginning to promoting Liskeard. Businesses in town need a united approach.'

Re-elected councillors were mayor Tony Powell, Anne Purdon, Katrina Dawe, Ian Goldsworthy, Christina Whitty and Nick Mallard.

Losing their seats were former mayor Sandra Preston, former deputy mayor Lori Read, Stephen Barrett and Anne Kennedy Truscott. Rosa Mashiter, Pam Whittaker and Bruce Hawken retired.

At a meeting at which all councillors were sworn in, the Open Liskeard party made its presence felt by suspending the council's standing orders which regulate the present committee system.

Cllr Brooks proposed a six-week review of the council's structures, which means that the finance, amenities and property committees will not meet during this time. However, the planning committee will meet as usual. Any other matters needing attention during the interim period are to be discussed by the full council

Cllr Hawken proposed investigating the possibility of introducing technology, such as Skype, to council meetings to enable councillors not present to be able join in.

She also proposed that all meetings should be recorded.

Cllr Powell, who hands over his chain of office at the mayor choosing ceremony on May 22, said: 'Far from the election being a joyous event, the poor turn-out reflected the doorstep message from the electorate that Open Liskeard had in fact closed Liskeard and that the internal divisions within the town had simply destroyed their interest.

'However, politics is politics and you get what you vote for which in this case is a replica of the town team whose record for "talk talk" of prevarication and lack of results is now widely known.

'I hope this does not transfer to the town council whose record this past year has been outstanding in difficult circumstances. I congratulate all those who stood for re-election and were successful and thank those who lost their seats or retired.

'I look forward to being freed from the mayoral shackles to be free to speak and act as I find.'

Results: Liskeard North – Ian Goldsworthy 329, Roger Holmes (Open Liskeard – OL) 292, Lorna Shrubsole (OL) 236, James Shrubsole (OL) 233, Christina Whitty 235. Not elected: Anne Kennedy Truscott 156.

Liskeard East – Sally Hawken (OL) 495, Jane Pascoe (OL) 478, Anne Purdon 458, Tony Powell 369, Katrina Dawe 368. Not elected: Susan Shand (OL) 294, Michael Von Ruhland (OL) 279, Stephen Barrett 274, Lori Reid 273, John Kendrick-Crawshaw 157.

Liskeard West – Susan Pike (OL) 500, Rachel Brooks (OL) 480, Hella Tovar (OL) 395, Philip Seeva (OL) 389, Nick Mallard 298. Not elected: Sandra Preston 277, Peter Higgs 155.